Hundreds of protesters rallied Saturday in the northeastern Romanian village of Pungesti against plans by Chevron to drill for shale gas, leading the US energy giant to temporarily suspend activities there.

"Chevron go home", protesters chanted as they tore down barriers to briefly enter the site where Chevron intends to drill its first exploration well in Romania.

In a statement sent to AFP, Chevron said it "has suspended activities in Pungesti commune as a result of unsafe conditions generated by unlawful and violent protester activities."